MoD launches first stage of competition to design and build new UK flagship

The Ministry of Defence has launched the first stage of a procurement process for the design and construction of the UK’s new national flagship.

The Ministry of Defence is hosting an industry engagement day later week where further details will be disclosed to the market, with initial expressions of interest due by 12th August.

The new vessel, which has will be named in due course, will be used to help promote international trade opportunities.

These will, as outlined in the contract notice, include ‘docking at a port in a country where a British Prime Ministerial visit is taking place to accommodate parallel discussions between British and local businesses.’

Other potential uses could also include hosting trade fairs, trade negotiations and international ministerial summits.

The international competitive procurement will be held in two stages.

Firstlly, the competitive design phase – during which suppliers will refine their concepts in response to feedback from MOD representatives.

This will be followed by a second contest for the construction contract itself.

Only British shipyards will be eligible to build the flagship, through the application of procurement regulations more typically used for the construction of destroyers and other defence related expenditure.

Amongst the ship and yacht builders expected to consider working on the project are Cammell Laird in Merseyside; Harland & Wolff in Belfast; and, Pendennis Yachts in Cornwall.

Construction is expected to start in 2022 with the ship launched in 2024 and entering service by the last quarter of 2025. 

The vessel will be crewed by the Royal Navy and is expected to remain in service for about 30 years.

It will be the first national flagship since the Royal Yacht Britannia (pictured), which was decommissioned by the Blair government in 1997.